Giving up the kitchen...an Unprecedented event!!!!!

I know I'm a good mom, but I too have my quirks. I home school my girls, so I covet the time I get to myself - especially when I have a lot on my mind; and the more I have on my mind, the more I go into robotic mode of JUST BARELY getting things done (as I'm processing my thoughts).  I just survive, rather than REALLY trying to serve.  

Sometimes the bare minimum is all I can do. 

For a while now my girls have been asking to cook alongside me & learn.  Anyone who knows me, knows I LOOOOOOVE to cook - I regularly do it for 20+ people...BUT...it's my best thinking time (as well as in the bathroom when my girls allow me to be there by myself...case in point - Miss Micah comes in the bathroom while I'm showering today and proceeds to say, "Aren't you excited I'm L-E-T-T-I-N-G you have a shower by yourself today?"  What's wrong with this picture?!?!  ANYWAYS...)

So, I've been putting off letting the girls into my coveted kitchen bubble.

Since the New Year I've been in a lot of "thinking" time - including alone kitchen time. 

Yesterday, I decided to bring myself to share the kitchen with the 8 year old...UNPRECEDENTED!!!

A miracle happened - The veil of discouragement I'd been working through lifted instantly.

It's amazing how easy we allow frustration to creep in, and the first thing it replaces is our desire to go over and above for others - whether it be our children, spouse, or people around us.  But, miraculously, the opposite happens even quicker - when we break the cycle of "what about ME" for even a moment, we feel EMPOWERED! 

She did an amazing job (even by my standards ;)) & cooked a beautiful braided chicken for the family - and it was more healing for me than she'll ever know.

It was a big lesson to me - not to be so focused on the things that I can't change, & discourage me , but rather be an even MORE willing tool looking to serve those around me, and like the serenity prayer states, "To Change the things I Can"

And God did the rest!

2011-2012 Curriculum

Enough with the slacking...

Well, it's that time of the year again - getting ready for school.  I'm actually really excited for this year.  We had some hard truths to swallow about what worked, and DIDN'T WORK last year.

I have two VERY different personalities to work with so I'm needing to be very creative. The girls are VERY strong willed (I have NO IDEA where they get that from)...but over different issues so it gets interesting around these parts.

I had a lot of fun getting our office ready for our up & coming school year - I commissioned my talented husband to put his artsy touch in our room.  I mean, if it's going to be a year of inspiration - let it be a fun place to be in!

 

This year we are changing the curriculum completely and are doing a lot more interactive activities together.  I know it's making a big difference in their excitement level that I am involving them in the choosing of the school work - so the girls feel invested in their own learning this year.

Here is part of our science curriculum - it has all kinds of experiments, and projects in it.

One project is to put a tooth (one of their baby teeth) in soda and watch it rot - will that cure them of their love of all things sugar?!?!?

Here's the other science book we're doing - of course - with the girls' love of anything & everything having to do with the Ocean...

 

For Math, English, & Spelling work, I'm changing to Rod & Staff (Grades 3 & 4).  A very good trusted friend did it with her girls last year and they appreciated it's simplicity & style.  I also had a public school teacher look at it, and she said it's content is at par with the school system.

 

Geography will be studied mostly by "the car window" via our current and past travels since we do a lot of cross-country traveling, and are in partnership with several missionaries...so we study where they are.

History - the jury is still out, so I'm really looking forward to "gleening" from the blog hop posts.

I heard a statistic that an average child is busier than a CEO of a major corporation. So we are becoming jealous guards of more peace and good ol' fashioned play time.  I think it's so important that we as a family are more available for each other, and opportunities God brings our way to be a blessing to others.  

We have enrolled the girls in dance again this year, and they are also in a Missionettes (like a Christian Girl Scouts).  They have plenty of opportunities to spend time with friends & activities, but I'm determined to have a quieter year of quality family time.  It's soo easy to stay very BUSY but I know that is not healthy for the little people, or us to be on the go from sun-up to sun-down every day

I am daily thankful for the opportunity to be a mom & teacher to 2 beautiful little girls.  As they grow, and change I'm prayerfully watching them turn into the little ladies God is molding them to be.  

"Thank You God for trusting me with 2 precious hearts.  May I be diligent in pouring Your love and teaching into them."